horace



(No Model.)

O. L. HORAOK.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 252,767. Patented Jan; 24,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHARLES L. HORAOK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,767, dated January 24, 1882.

Application filed October 14, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAS. L. HORAoK,acitizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Oouplings, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to a car-coupling using a link and pin made stationary by means ofa washer, as described in my PatentNo. 154,950, dated September 15, 1874, and as covered by Claim 1 of said patent. In the specification and drawings forming part of said patent the draw-bar to which link, pin, and washer are attached is shown to be of the same general form and construction as draw-bars made of wroughtiron generally are-viz., with two horizontal bars containing the pin-holes and a face-plate connecting them.

The object of the present invention is to adapt the same combination of link, pin, and washer to a draw-head of the general construction and outlines now usuallygiven to cast-iron draw-head s. The draw-head, (which is the forward part of the draw-bar and is used for coup- 1ingpurposes,) when made ofcast-iron, is almost universally constructed like a box, with a hole in the top and one in the bOttOlllfOI receiving the coupling-pin, and the front end left open for admitting the coupling-link. By making certain changes in this form I am enabled to place the stationary link, when it is notneedcd for coupling purposes, in such a position as not to interfere with a link from an opposite drawhead which is to effect the coupling, and I also prevent the forward end ofsaid stationary link, after a coupling has been effected by nieans of a link connected with the opposite draw-head, from sliding out of the draw-head, and from thereby obstructing the mouth of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the draw-head with link, pin, and washer attached, showing their position before a coupling has been effected by means of a link connected. with the opposite draw head. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a draw-head with link, pin,'and washer attached, the link L being in a position ready to enter the opposite draw-head. Fig. 3

(No model.)

is a frontelevationofa draw-head,showingthe stationary link in a position through which it has to pass in order to be placed in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is afront view of a draw-head, showing the section of a link, L, which is temporarily connected with the same, having effected a coupling with an opposite draw-head. ThestationarylinkL appears separated from L by the washer W. Fig. 5 is a ground plan of thedraw-head, showing the stationary link in va position similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

At or near one of the lower corners of th mouth of the draw-head D an enlargement or extension, Y, of the same is shown. In the upper part of the opposite side of the draw-head a longitudinal opening, 0, is indicated. The same, however, does not extend to the face of thedraw-head.

hen it is proposed to elevate the stationary pin P in order to effectacoupling by means of a link already connected with the opposite draw-head, the stationary link L must first be passed through the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The clear width inside of the draw-head is made small enough, and the rear end of the opening 0 is kept sufiiciently forward or toward the mouth of the draw-head to make it impossible to pass the stationary link L in any other way to the position shown in Fig. 1. After the rear end of .the stationary link has thus been passed through the opening 0 itbeoomes possible to elevate its forward end and the stationary pin and the washer to the position shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lip Z, near the mouth of the draw-head and above the recess Y, prevents the stationary link L from sliding out'of the draw-head D through the same channel through which it was introduced, after once anotherlink, L, has entered the draw-head and effected a coupling. The thickness of the link L and of the washer W, even if the forward end of the stationary link L should have a tendency to drop down, hold the same up sufficiently to prevent it from passing under said lip Z. After the stationary pin P has been elevated to admit a link connected with an opposite draw-head, it is best to place and keep said link in a somewhat reclining position, as

" claims below.

the shockeaused by the meeting of the two draw-heads will then throw said pin into a vertical position and will cause it to drop, and by passing through the link already attached to the opposite draw-head to effect a coupling. To be able to maintain the pin in this reclining position until the opposite link has entered the draw-head, I extend the upper pin-hole backward, as indicated by letter X in Fig. 5, making this extension somewhat narrower than the pin-hole proper, so as to fit the pin very closely and to produce sufficient friction to maintain said pin inits elevated position. There is, however, a tendency on the part of the forward end of the stationary link, which is nearest to the mouth of the draw-head, after the pin has been placed in the elevated and reclining'position described above, to drop down and to carry down with it the washer W, and also the pin, or at least to assume such a po-. sition as to partly obstruct the mouth of the draw-head anti to offer resistance to the link connected with the opposite draw-head,which is to effect the coupling. To guard against this the forward part of the underside of the opening is cut sloping backward, and a recess, R, is made in the roof of the draw-head, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus that part of the stationary link which, after it has assumed the position shown in Fig. 1, is nearest to the mouth of the draw-head is allowed to assume an elevated position behind the lip V. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

1n the bottom of the draw-head the upper part of the lower pin-hole is made to conform approximately to the lower side of the washer \V, thereby allowing the latter, when the stationarylink is to be used for coupling purposes, to drop into the recess so formed, as shown in Fig; 2, and to thereby allow the rear end of said link some additional play up anti down.

The shoulder S (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5) is intended as a protection for the draw-head, preventing the same from being forced under the car-platform and from having the stationarylink L, when hanging out sidewise, forced against the neckyoke, as said shoulder S is so arranged that the same comes to rest against the body of the car when there is a tendency to force said draw-head backward.

\Vhil'e the drawings show a round pin, P, a flat one may be used instead, in which case it might be best to cut a notch on the rear side of the same, and near the lower end, and use it for holding the link in an elevated position, when required, by resting said notch against the rim of the upper pin-hole.

Any suitable material may be used in the construction of the draw-head, providing it is made of such a form as to have it perform the services described above and covered by the By modifying it slightly a wrought-iron draw'bar such as now in use on many railroads, or a draw-head of wrought and cast iron combined, could be" made to answer the purpose.

P, secured to the dra w-head D, said draw-head being constructed with the recess Y on its face and with the side opening, 0, for the pur-- pose of passing through the same the stationary link L, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a link, L, and pin P, secured to the draw-head D, said draw-head being provided with the side opening, 0, for the purpose of passiug'through the same the end of the. stationary link L, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the link L and pin P, secured to the draw-head D, said draw-head being constructed with the side opening, 0, for receiving the stationary link L, and the lip Z for preventing it from sliding out of the draw-head after another link has been introduced, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the stationary link L, pin P, and washer W with the draw-head D, said draw-head being constructed with the side opening, 0, for the purpose of passing through it the rear end of the stationary link, and with the lip V for protecting the washer and the forward end of the stationary link when in an elevated position.

5. The combination of a link, L, and pin P, secured to the draw-head D by means of the washer W, said draw-head being provided with the side opening, 0, for the purpose of passing through the same the end of the stationary link L, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the link L and pin P, secured to the draw-head I) by means of the washer W, said draw-head being constructed with the recess Y on its face, and with the side opening, 0, for the purpose of passing through the same the stationary link L, substantially as described.

7'. The combination of the link L and pin P, secured to the draw-head D by means, of the washer W, said draw-head being constructed with the side opening, 0, for receiving the stationary link, and the lip Z for preventing it from sliding out of the draw-head after another link has been introduced, substantially as described.

8. The combination of thelink L and pin P, secured to the draw-head D by means of the washer W, said draw-head being constructed with the side opening, 0, the lips V and Z, and the recess Y, all substantially as specified.

9. The combination of thelink L, pin P, and washer W with the draw head D, the upper part of the lower pin-hole in said draw-head shoulder or projection back of said opening, being made to conform with the lower side of for the purpose of protecting the stationary 10 the washer W, substantially as described. link.

10. The, combination of a stationary link x 5 pin, and washer with a draw-head, the latter (JHAS HORAOK' being provided with a side opening for receiv- Witnesses: in g the stationary link when not required for RUFUS M. WILLIAMS,

coupling purposes, and constructed with a WALDoRF H. PHiLLIPs. 

